Entity Rescinds Improper Charges for Medical Record Copies to Reflect Reasonable, Cost-Based Fees

Entity Rescinds Improper Charges for Medical Record Copies to Reflect Reasonable, Cost-Based Fees
Covered Entity: Private Practice
Issue: Access

A patient alleged that a covered entity failed to provide him access to his medical records.  After OCR notified the entity of the allegation, the entity released the complainant’s medical records but also billed him $100.00 for a “records review fee” as well as an administrative fee.  The Privacy Rule permits the imposition of a reasonable cost-based fee that includes only the cost of copying and postage and preparing an explanation or summary if agreed to by the individual.  To resolve this matter, the covered entity refunded the $100.00 “records review fee.”



Issued by: Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Do the HIPAA Rules allow a covered entity or business associate to use a CSP that stores ePHI on servers outside of the United States? Answer: Yes, provided the covered entity (or business associate) enters into a business associate agreement (BAA) with the CSP and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the HIPAA Rules. However, while the HIPAA Rules do not include requirements specific to protection of electronic protected health information (ePHI) processed or stored by a CSP or any other business associate outside of the United States, OCR notes that ...read more



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Issued by: Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Do the HIPAA Rules allow a covered entity or business associate to use a CSP that stores ePHI on servers outside of the United States? Answer: Yes, provided the covered entity (or business associate) enters into a business associate agreement (BAA) with the CSP and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the HIPAA Rules. However, while the HIPAA Rules do not include requirements specific to protection of electronic protected health information (ePHI) processed or stored by a CSP or any other business associate outside of the United States, OCR notes that ...read more

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